Machine for sealing the ends of metallic tubes.



LPPLIGLTIOI FILED-FEB. 19, 1912.

l Patented May 14, 1912.

Hoang ,GEORGE G. RAMBAUD, F NEW YORK, N. 'Y'.

MACHINE FOB SEALINGl THE ENDS 0F vMETALLIC TUBES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mayu, 1912.

Application nieu February i9, '1912. vserial No. 678,543.

- To all 'whom t may concern:

chinesfor hermetically sealing or closingl the ends of metallic tubes,by electrically soldering or welding the ends thereof, but 1s chieflydesigned to seal the ends of that variety of tubes commercially known ascollapsible tubes. One of the principal objects of the invention is toprovide an apparatus by means of lwhich the operation of closing andsealing the ends of collapsible tubes may be etlilciently andeconomically accomplishedand with great rapidity.

`described, illustrated in t-he drawing, and

. With this and other objects in view, the

' invention consists in the general construc-A tion, arrangement andcombination of the several parts of the device, as hereinafter more4particularly pointed out in the claims I a section through the circuitclosing hereunto a pended.

In the view of the device, showing the electric circuit for supplyingheat, and means for openingv and closing said circuit; Fig. 2 is avertical cross-section through the base and bedplate, and shows thesealing mechanism in elevation', and the manner of securing the same tosaid base and bed-plate; Fig. 3 is echa-- nism, and Fig. 4 is asectional detail f the sealing mechanism.

Referrin to the several views, the numeral 1 in icates a suitable base,Apreferably composed of a metal frame, rectangularv in shape, supportedupon legs or su ports 2, and providedfwith inwardly exten ingprojections 8. Seated in the base is a bed-plate or block 4, of slate orother non-conducting material, and passing.throughsuitable aperturestherein, and directly opposite each other, are twoposts or standards l5,5, the lower ends of which pass through perforations in theinwardly-extending projections 3, and lbeing 'screw-threaded are securedin f fixed position by nuts 6.

AdJustabl securedon each post 5 isa collar 7, and a ove each collar is avcoil-spring rawing: Figure 1 is a top plan- 8. Vertically movable onthe posts 5, 5, above the springs 8, is a bar 9, to which is secured vaplunger 10. The lower end of said plunger is screw-threaded, and theupper end thereof passes threughla perforation in a bar 11, and isprovided with a suitable head 12, said bar l1 havingv its ends securedto the posts 5, 5,.as shown. Sui'- rounding each post 5, between thebars 9 and 11, is a coil-spring 18, Aone end of which is secured to thebar 11, and the other end to the bar 9, so that when the pressurenecessary to force the plunger downward is removed, the action of thesprings 8 will exert Aa pushing-force on the bar 9.and the springs 13 apulling-force on said bar to return the plunger to its normally elevatedposition. The numeral 14 indicates a suitable bracket or holder, and isprovided in its upper ortion with a screw-threaded seat adapte to-receive and hold the lower screw-threaded end of the plunger 10, asshown; and in its lower portion is provided with a suitable seat adaptedto receive and hold a suitable presser-block 15, of any non-conductingand heat-resisting materia, such as porcelain, said block 15 beingsecured in said bracket 14, by suitable securing means 16, 16,preferably set-screws, as shown. While'I have described the bracket 14as being secured to the plunger by screw-threads, it is evidentthat saidbracket may lbe made integral with said plunger, or secured thereto byother suitable means without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The slate bed-plate 4 is provided with an anvil or block 17, of anysuitable non-conducting and heat-resisting material, such as porcelain,and is, preferably, L-shape in cross-section, so as to provide avertical abutment 18 for the purpose of gaging the extent of sealing ofthe flattened end of the tube. The anvil 17 is provided with a heater19, preferably of a slightly flattenednickelchrome wire, the ends ofwhich are connected with binding posts 20, 20.

Situated at any convenient n point on the bed-plate is anelectric-switch 22, preferably of the usual knife type, lthe post 23 towhich the blade 24 is pivoted, being secured in a perforation passingthrough said bed-plate. The lower end of the post 23 is provided withclamping bars or plates 25,

25, b n which the main -line wire 26 is cl ped by means of the nut 27 onthe lower nd of said l il@ post 23, asl shown. The post 28 with whichthe blade of the switch is adapted to make contact is in electricalcommunication with one of the vbinding posts 20 through the conductor29, the other binding post 2 0, be-

ing connected With the other main line wlre 30, both main line Wiresleading to a suitable source of electrical supply, as shown.

In operating my invention I take a tube which has, preferably, beenfilled, and place the end thereof, which has been flattened in the usualWay, upon the horizontal portion of the anvil, resting on the heater,With its flattened end abutting 'against the vertical portion 18 of saidanvil; the svvitch is then closed and the current Will pass overconductor 29 to the heater; pressure is then applied to the plunger toforce the presserblock into contact with the end of' the tube restingupon the heater to eHect the sealing by the heat generated in saidheater. As soon as the sealing is` completed, which is l` done almostinstantly, pressure is removed from the plunger Which is immediatelyreturned to normal position y,by the action of said springs. The sealedtube is then re moved and another placed in position for a solderingagent will not'be necessary, asthe tin coating Will serveas an eiicientunit` ing agent; but When the ends of plain metal tubes are to besoldered a small quantity of solder may be used as the uniting agent. Itwill also be obvious that the heating circuit may be automaticallyclosed and opened by the fall and rise of the plunger by connect-v ingthe switchtherewith, either by lever, or

otherwise. y

lHaving thus described my invention what I claim, is:

1. A machine for soldering the ends of `metal tubes, comprising a fixedanvil of heat-resisting material provided with an electric heater, agage-stop integral With said anvil for determining the Width of the seamto be soldered, a pressure-block, means for moving said pressure-block,means for supplying a current of electricity to the heater, and asuitable electric switch.

2. A machine'for sealing the ends of metal tubes, comprising a fixedanvil of porcelain provided with an electric heater, a gagestop thewidth of the seam to be soldered, a plum-- ger carrying aporcelain.presser-block, said plunger being attached to a horizontal barvertically movable on a pair of supports, compressible springs adaptedto return Athe plunger to normal position after having integral Withsaid anvil for limiting been depressed, and means for supplying acurrent ofelectricity tothe heater.

` 3. A machine for sealing the ends of metal tubes, comprising a fixedporcelain anvil provided with an electric heater, a gagestop integralWith said anvil vfor limiting the Width of the seam to be soldered,means for supplying a current of electricity to the heater, a plungerattached to a horizontal bar vertically movable upon supporting-posts, aporcelain presser-block carried by theplunger, compressible andexpansible springs for returning the plunger to normal position afterhaving been depressed, and means for opening and closing the electriccircuit.

In testimony my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

, GEORGE G. RAMBAUD, Witnesses:

C. M. BENNETT, L. E. HUGHES.

whereof I have hereunto set

